Metallic railroad-tie



2 Sheets-Sheet 1. E. SAUNDERS. METALLIC RAILROAD TIE.

(No Model.)

Patented Nov. 17, 1891.

N m M W/TNESSES ,W.

(No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2. E. SAUNDERS.

METALLIC RAILROAD TIE. I 4

Patented Nov 17 1891 Ji a, .I" I

02 H a l 1 5 WITNESSES: IIVVE/l/TUI? A TTO/MIEY.

UNITED STATES PATENT Orricn.

ELLISON SAUNDERS, 0F AUSTIN, TEXAS.

M ETALLIC RAI L ROAD-Tl E.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 463,456, dated November 17, 1891.

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ELLISON SAUNDERS, of

Austin, in the county of Travis and State of Texas, have invented a new and Improved Metallic Railroad-Tie, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention relates to metallic railroadties such as shown and described in the Letters Patent of the United States No. 450,498, granted to me April 14, 1891.

The object of the present invention is to provide anew andimproved metallic railroadtie which is simple and durable in construction, and prevents spreading of the rails or bending of the tension-rod and base-plate.

The invention consists of certain parts and details and combinations of the same, as will be described hereinafter, and then pointed out in the claims. 1

Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forminga part of this specification, in which similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

Figure 1 is an end elevation of the improvement with the rails in section. Fig. 2 is a plan View of the same. Fig. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal section of the same on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a like view of the same on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is an enlarged plan view of a modified form of the improvement. Fig. 6 is a sectional side elevation of the same on the lines 6 6 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is an enlarged sectional side elevation of a modified form of fastening, and Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional plan view of the same on the lines 8 8 of Fig. 7.

The improved metallic railroad-tie is pro: vided with a base-plate A, having downwardly and outwardly turned ends B, and preferably made of wrought iron or steel of suitable width. On the top of the plate A are arranged the blocks 0 and 0, each secured by rivets or bolts D to the base-plate A, as is plainly shown in Fig. 4. The blocks 0 and C are preferably of cast or malleable iron of a suitable height and length.

The twoblocks Oand O are connected with each other by a tension-rod E, the head E and nut E of which abut or bear against the outer ends of the blocks 0 and 0. Each of the blocks 0 and O is formed in its top with a transversely-extending recess 0 through Application filed June 8, 1891. Serial No. 395.422. (No model.)

which passes part of the tension-rod E, it be ing understood that the said recess extends from the inside to within a suitable distance of the outer end. On the top of each block is also formed a longitudinally-extending recess 0 forming a seat for the base of .the rail F or F', respectively, so that sidewise movement of the rail on the blocks is prevented. The recesses O are of adepth corresponding to the thickness of the base of the rail.

The tension-rod E passes through a block G, supported on top of the base-plate A at'or near the middle of the latter, between the blocks 0 and O. The block G is fastened by a rivet or bolt to the base-plate, so as to prevent acoidental displacement.

The rails F and F are secured in their seats in the blocks 0 and G by spikes H, either similar in construction and arrange ment to the ones shown in the patent above referred to and shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3, or as shown in Figs. 5and 6,in which the spikes are formed with a curve or twist and driven into straight apertures in the block, which have a slight twist, so as to twist the spikes and prevent pulling out.

The preferable form of fastening the rails by spikes is illustrated in Figs. 7and 8. The apertures J for the spikes H are formed with a bend and twist J at about half-way down the blocks 0 or C, so that the lower half is out of alignment with the upper half of the aperture .T, as shown in Fig. 8. The ordinary spike when driven in this aperture follows its shape and is consequently bent at the middle and twisted in at its lower half, so that the spike is not liable to get loose.

It is understood that by adjusting the nut 0 E on the tension-rod E any desired tension is given to the blocks and base-plate to prevent spreading of the rails. In order to prevent bending of the tension-rod E and the baseplate A at or near the middle, the block G is inserted in the manner above described. On curves or switches the guard or switch railsI are fastened on an extension 0 of the respective block 0 or O, as plainly shown in Figs. 5 and 6. This extension 0 is formed :00 under the rail I'with a recess 0 to lighten the block to form room for the nut or head of the tension-rod E.

Having thus described my invention, whatI tion, with a base-plate, of blocks secured by v claim asnew, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a metallic railroadtie, the combinaiion, with the base-plate, the blocks riveted or bolted to the base-plate with their lower faces resting on top thereof, rail-receiving recesses in the top faces of the blocks, and spike-receiving apertures at opposite sides of the re cesscs, of the headed tension-rod extending through the said blocks above the base-plate and provided with an adj Listing-nut, substantially as set forth.

2. In a metallic railroad-tie, the combination, with a base-plate, of blocks secured by rivets or bolts to the said base-plate, a tensionrod extending through the said blocks and bearing against the solid outer ends of the same, and a block interposed between the said base-plate and rod midway between the other two blocks, substantially as shown and described.

- 3. In a metallic railroad-tie, the combinarivets or bolts to the said base-plate and each having on its top a longitudinal recess forming a seat for the base of the rail, a rod extending through the said blocks and bearing against the solid outer ends of the same, and a second block held between the said baseplate and rod midway between the other two blocks, substantially as shown and described.

4.. A metallic railroad-tie provided with a block having a spike-aperture formed with a bend and twist at its lower half, substantially as shown and described. I

5. In a metallic railroad-tie, the combination, with a spike, of-a block having an apertu re adapted to receive the said spike and formed at or near its middle with a bend and twist at its lower half, substantially as shown and described.

ELLISON SAUNDERS.

\Vitnesses:

E; F. MOCARTY, R. M. ARMSTRONG. 

